Notes on Bell Schedule and Advisory/Pathways class
TO: Denise Rendon, Brian Cramp, Lilia Storey, Jessica Ravelo, Joe Davidock
FROM: Gabriel Paez
Date: 4/13/11
Bellschedule: Combined Block Schedule
We have decided that, at least for year 1, we will stay with the “combined block schedule” format (four days of block schedule with one day of 1-6) that we are currently using, with the addition of an Advisory/Pathways class. We will shave 15 minutes or so off core classes, and the Advisory/Pathways class would meet somewhere in the 40-45 minute range.
Problems with the 8x2 and 4x4
8x2: too many preps for students and teachers; accelerated students would matriculate early, and we would have to be aligned with ROP or College program
4x4: classes would be paced too quickly; accelerated students would matriculate early, and we would have to be aligned with ROP or College program
Why Advisory/Pathways?
The Advisory/Pathways class would allow for the following:
Math and English interventions based on Data
Focused, skill specific daily practice
Would allow for Differentiated Instruction and Project Based Learning
CST, CaHSEE, and SAT test prep
Would ease the 9th grade transition to high school by emphasizing study skills, time management and organization
Advisory/Pathways would not be a class that assigns extra homework, all activities would be completed in the class time allotted
QUESTIONS
Work would be completed in a portfolio that students maintained through their four years? (4 separate binders?)
Would there be a stigma attached to the Math/English Interventions? Would this lead to defeatism?
Would Math/English Interventions benefit from heterogeneous mixing vs homogeneous?
Would Advisory/Pathways fulfill an elective requirement?
Other justifications/questions for Advisory/Pathways? Please note them so I can add them to our School Plan.
Curriculum Plan
Before we began to plan for the Advisory/Pathways 4 year program, we discussed the following:
Should we require a 4th year of Math?
Should we require 3 years of science?
Pathways/Advisory Plan: A Seriously Rough Draft
9th Grade Success Academy
Notes:
Class would rotate within a four component wheel
Students who perform poorly in Math and English in the Fall will take a 10 week session of Math and a 10 week session of English in the Spring
Fall Semester
Spring Semester:
Math Essentials: broken into two groups. One group is dedicated to skill building for students with Math CST scores at FBB and BB. The second Math group is for students tested at B, P, or A.
Math Intervention
English Essentials: Writing Conventions (MLA Format, formatting quotations), sentence fluency.
English Intervention
Organizational Skills: note taking, calendar organization, time management
Career Pathways
ActiveReading: students learn concrete reading skills to improve comprehension (summary and paraphrase), vocabulary development and questioning skills.
Computer Literacy
10th Grade Advisory
Notes:
The first 10 weeks are CaHSEE prep. At the 10 week, students who pass a practice CaHSEE will move into either Leadership Project or Computer Literacy.
Students who do not pass the CaHSEE take another 10 weeks of Math and English Intervention
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Photography Project
5 week Math CaHSEE Prep (2 groups: FBB/B and B, P, A)
World Events Project
5 weeks English CaHSEE Prep (2 groups: FBB/B and B, P, A)
CST: Math and English Intervention
Computer Literacy
Math Project
Leadership Project
English Project
11th Grade Advisory
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
Math Intervention
SAT Prep
English Intervention
Service Learning
Computer Literacy: Recruitment Video/Pamphlets
Math Intervention
College Research
English Intervention
12th Grade Advisory
Notes:
The 12th Grade program would not rotate students within a wheel; rather, teachers would guide the same students through a program designed to get them through the college application process.
Fall Semester
Spring Semester
College Applications
Scholarships
FAFSA Forms
Reflection Portfolio
Personal Statement
Senior Portfolio
Concerns:
Please ask questions about this plan! I can only think we will be stronger and better prepared by addressing weaknesses early on.
A couple of areas of concern for me:
In the 10th grade wheel, will we need two Math and two English teachers for the FBB/B and B/P/A split? Will we have that many teachers? Will we have teachers instruct out of their content area?
Should the 12th grade Fall semester include another Math and English Skills class?
Should 12th grade Spring include a leadership project?
Do we need to create an ASB program to take care of things like Prom and Homecoming?
TO: Denise Rendon, Brian Cramp, Lilia Storey, Jessica Ravelo, Joe Davidock
FROM: Gabriel Paez
Date: 4/13/11
Bell schedule: Combined Block Schedule
We have decided that, at least for year 1, we will stay with the “combined block schedule” format (four days of block schedule with one day of 1-6) that we are currently using, with the addition of an Advisory/Pathways class. We will shave 15 minutes or so off core classes, and the Advisory/Pathways class would meet somewhere in the 40-45 minute range.
Problems with the 8x2 and 4x4
Why Advisory/Pathways?
QUESTIONS
Other justifications/questions for Advisory/Pathways? Please note them so I can add them to our School Plan.
Curriculum Plan
Before we began to plan for the Advisory/Pathways 4 year program, we discussed the following:
Pathways/Advisory Plan: A Seriously Rough Draft
9th Grade Success Academy
Notes:
10th Grade Advisory
Notes:
11th Grade Advisory
12th Grade Advisory
Notes:
The 12th Grade program would not rotate students within a wheel; rather, teachers would guide the same students through a program designed to get them through the college application process.
Concerns:
Please ask questions about this plan! I can only think we will be stronger and better prepared by addressing weaknesses early on.
A couple of areas of concern for me: